Republicans See Long-Term Victory in Defeat on Stimulus Plan  —  Three months after their Election Day drubbing, Republican leaders see glimmers of rebirth in the party's liberation from an unpopular president, its selection of its first African American chairman and, most of all …

Barack Obama is a novice - and it shows  —  After a rocky start, the new President knows he has to seize back the political agenda, says Toby Harnden.  —  During last year's epic election campaign, Hillary Clinton said that in the White House “there is no time for on-the-job training”.

The Destructive Center  —  What do you call someone who eliminates hundreds of thousands of American jobs, deprives millions of adequate health care and nutrition, undermines schools, but offers a $15,000 bonus to affluent people who flip their houses?  —  A proud centrist.

U.S. Taxpayers Risk $9.7 Trillion on Bailouts as Senate Votes  —  Feb. 9 (Bloomberg) — The stimulus package the U.S. Congress is completing would raise the government's commitment to solving the financial crisis to $9.7 trillion, enough to pay off more than 90 percent of the nation's home mortgages.

‘Doom’ talk scored as ‘not presidential’  —  Poses risk for ‘Yes, we can’ candidate  —  From crisis to catastrophe.  Off a cliff.  Dark, darker, darkest.  Mortal danger of absolute collapse.  Armageddon.  —  President Obama and top Democrats on Capitol Hill are deploying …

Steele Defends Payment to Sister  —  RNC Chairman Says Campaign Costs Were Legitimate and Documented  —  Michael S. Steele, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, said yesterday that there was nothing improper in a payment of more than $37,000 to his sister's company for work …

The Happy Party  —  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) They took a beating in November, but now, in the stimulus fight, Republicans are smiling again.  —  You see it all over Capitol Hill, in the hallways, the hearing rooms, the gathering spots.  Republicans, coming off a devastating, across-the-board electoral defeat, are ... happy.

US outlines new plan for Afghanistan  —  Ian Traynor Munich  —  The Obama administration today today outlined a new campaign strategy for the war in Afghanistan, scaling back the ambitions of George Bush in a shift which senior officials and diplomats described as a “new realism”.

Obama wields the Oval invite  —  With Arlen Specter, the president was “crisp” and “professional” and threw in some talk about judges.  —  With Olympia Snowe, he was more casual, warming up with memories of the late Paul Simon, a mutual friend.  —  With Ben Nelson — a conservative Democrat …

Sanders backs Dean for HHS post  —  Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the latest lawmaker to back Howard Dean, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, for secretary of Health and Human Services.  —  In a letter to President Obama that was released on Sunday, Sanders backed Dean …

Why I Support the Stimulus  —  I am supporting the economic stimulus package for one simple reason: The country cannot afford not to take action.  —  The unemployment figures announced Friday, the latest earnings reports and the continuing crisis in banking make it clear that failure to act …

Smoking gun: caller explains Stimulus as Obama plan to fund permanent Democratic patronage system  —  “Chicago Bob”, calling into a radio talk show, explains the need to rush on the Stimulus package before anyone gets a good chance to review its sordid details.  The transcript:

Hard-hit Elkhart eager for aid from Obama, stimulus plan  —  Follow President Barack Obama's visit to Elkhart at IndyStar.com.  Watch live video of the town hall at noon.  Politics columnist Mathew Tully will cover the visit via his Twitter account.  Follow http://twitter.com/matthewltully

Warrior in Drug Fight Soon Becomes a Victim  —  Mexican General Seized, Slain in Cancun  —  CANCUN, Mexico — The general didn't get much time.  After a long, controversial career, Brig. Gen. Mauro Enrique Tello Quiñones retired from active duty last month and moved to this Caribbean playground …